5Things to Know on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17

A Malaysia Airlines plane carrying 283 passengers and 15 crew crashed Thursday in the battle-torn east Ukraine region of Donetsk, where U.S. intelligence agencies say it was struck by a ground-to-air missile. The agencies are divided over whether the missile was launched by the Russian military or by pro-Russia separatist rebels, who officials say lack the expertise to bring down a commercial jet in midflight. The crash follows the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in March.

18 Jul 2014 1:17am

By

WSJ Staff

1The Passengers

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was carrying 283 passengers and 15 crew when it was struck by a ground-to-air missile Thursday while flying over the battle-torn east Ukraine region of Donetsk, near the Russian border.

REUTERS

2The Missile

The Boeing 777, which was flying about 33,000 feet, was likely brought down by a surface-to-air missile system called the Buk. Developed in the old Soviet Union, Buk missiles can strike targets above 40,000 feet, fly at three times the speed of sound and carry a 121-pound warhead.

AP

3The Blame Game

It started almost immediately. Both Ukraine and Russia have such missile systems in their military—and some separatist rebels have claimed recent seizures from Ukraine forces. An adviser to Ukraine’s interior minister accused pro-Russia separatists of shooting down the plane. Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed the Ukraine government, saying it was responsible for fighting in the area, and denying Russian involvement.

AP

4A Difficult Investigation

Aircraft crash investigations are lengthy and difficult under the best of circumstances—but the Flight 17 probe has added levels of complexity. The crash site is in territory held by rebels, not the Ukraine government. Ukraine officials claim the rebels have the plane’s data and cockpit recorders, or black boxes. There are also concerns about the integrity of the crash site, with images showing rescue workers, possibly rebel fighters, media and civilians, at the scene. Examiners need first to examine the wreckage, which is scattered over miles of rugged terrain in the middle of a war zone. Once the black-box data and physical evidence has been examined, investigators can then decide basic first steps, such as which agency will be in charge of the probe. Malaysia Airlines will also investigate.

AFP/Getty Images

5What Now for Malaysia Airlines?

Malaysia Airlines is expected to face a regulatory probe and intense public scrutiny. The state-controlled airline is still trying to recover from the March disappearance of Flight 370. With cancelled bookings, long-standing financial troubles, and increased low-cost competition, there were already questions about the carrier’s future.